CSHL Center for Humanities
banner
humanities.cshl.edu
CSHL Center for Humanities
@humanities.cshl.edu
Center for Humanities & History of Modern Biology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory promotes humanistic understandings of modern biology and medicine. We offer a variety of educational programs, organize public events, and publish online resources.
Pinned
New internship opportunity!

The American Philosophical Society and CSHL invite applications for a joint summer internship program for undergraduates working on junior or senior research projects related to the history of the life sciences.

More info here: apply.interfolio.com/174285
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
HISTORIAN OF THE LIFE SCIENCES position at CSHL!
I’m thrilled to announce that the CSHL Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology is inviting applications for this position.
This is a remarkable opportunity to join a unique, internationally recognized institution and the Center
Career Opportunities | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Careers
www.schooljobs.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Dr. James Watson, Nobel prize-winning scientist and former Director and President of CSHL. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Liz and family during this difficult time. www.cshl.edu/in-remembran...
In remembrance of Dr. James D. Watson | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Jim Watson made many contributions to science, education, public service, and especially Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). As a scientist, his and Francis Crick’s determination of the structure of...
www.cshl.edu
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
New internship opportunity!

The American Philosophical Society and CSHL invite applications for a joint summer internship program for undergraduates working on junior or senior research projects related to the history of the life sciences.

More info here: apply.interfolio.com/174285
October 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Rest, Play, Turn Dreams Into Reality

The CSHL Archives recently acquired a series of correspondence between Matthew Meselson and Jean Weigle.

The letters primarily detail Meselson's transduction experiments, and also give us a glimpse into the close friendship they shared.
October 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
“We could have published more if we had a more aggressive, short-term vision. And we would’ve failed the prostate cancer community if we’d given them something that sounded great but didn’t last.” www.cshl.edu/the-journey-... #ProstateCancer
The journey: One lab’s long winding road to cancer discovery | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
As many as one in eight men in America will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. About one in 44 will die from it. “Prostate cancer is very common,” Cold Spring Harbor Labor...
www.cshl.edu
October 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
Synesthesia, shipwrecks, and African elephant all await you in the smelliverse! Get a guided tour from CSHL Professor Alexei Koulakov in our Cocktails & Chromosomes video. @alexkoulakov.bsky.social #NeuroSkyence youtu.be/b5i0gUz3O1I?...
The hitchhiker's guide to the smelliverse with CSHL's Alexei Koulakov, Ph.D.
YouTube video by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
youtu.be
October 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
The twenty-first biennial Neurobiology of Drosophila meeting started last night! We are excited to host everyone this week, use #cshldros for all of your posts!
October 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
Early-onset cancers are on the rise & scientists are racing to understand why. This NYT feature highlights research from CSHL Associate Professor Camila dos Santos on how pregnancy, breastfeeding, & even urinary tract infections can leave lasting marks on breast tissue & influence cancer risk.
October 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
How do tumors grow, spread & interact with their surroundings? Scientists gathered at CSHL last week to share answers that could shape the future of cancer therapies. Read more: www.cshl.edu/go-inside-ca...
Go inside cancer’s biology | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
What happens inside and around a cancer cell? How does a tumor’s interaction with its surroundings contribute to cancer’s growth and spread? These questions could lead to a new generation of cancer th...
www.cshl.edu
September 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Congratulations Dr. Lucy Shapiro!

Dr. Shapiro was honored with the 2025 Lasker~Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science!

Watch Dr. Shapiro discuss some of the defining moments of her career here: tinyurl.com/y94vzhax
Oral History | Life in Science | Scientific Research | Lucy Shapiro on Defining Moments
Then use your browser's back button to return
tinyurl.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We are saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. David Baltimore.

A friend of CSHL since his undergraduate research in 1959, his last visit to CSHL was this March for the History of Science Meeting where he spoke about his journey in finding reverse transcriptase.

tinyurl.com/yy675k4c
Cancer Genetics: History & Consequences - David Baltimore - Finding reverse transcriptase
Cancer Genetics: History & Consequences. A History of Science Meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 2024.
library.cshl.edu
September 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
Pianist Chaeyoung Park and violinist Oliver Neubauer, two rising stars in their craft, have prepared a night of splendor for the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. community. Join us on September 19 at CSHL’s Grace Auditorium. More information and tickets can be found here: www.cshl.edu/mc-events/pi...
Piano/Violin duo Chaeyoung Park & Oliver Neubauer | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Piano/Violin duo, Chaeyoung Park & Oliver Neubauer, will perform at CSHL. Reception to follow.
www.cshl.edu
September 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
Learn more about Dr. Matthew Meselson's research on Chemical & Biological warfare with our digital collections.
www.cshl.edu/archives-blo...
Matthew Meselson on Chemical & Biological Warfare | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Dr. Matthew Meselson is a geneticist and molecular biologist known for being heavily involved in chemical and biological warfare research and anti-war activism. Many documents in the collection are in...
www.cshl.edu
August 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Summer days at Cold Spring Harbor!

This photograph is from from Kitty Brehme Warren's scrapbook. One of many photographs depicting life at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory!
cshl.smugmug.com/Kitty-Brehme...
August 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
The medicine you rely on. The creams in your cabinet. The injections that fight cancer. They all trace back to a single Addison’s patient in 1930—saved by an experimental treatment that came out of CSHL: www.cshl.edu/ever-use-cor...
Ever use cortisone? Thank one farmer and two CSHL scientists | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Addison’s disease is no walk in the park. The disorder occurs when a person’s adrenal glands don’t make enough cortisol. This hormone plays a key role in multiple bodily functions, including metabolis...
www.cshl.edu
August 21, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
As World Breast Cancer Research Day comes to an end, we’re sharing five stories that showcase not only our scientists’ progress, but also the donors and community members who make this work possible: www.cshl.edu/inspiring-br...
Inspiring breast cancer breakthroughs | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States, second only to skin cancer. Thanks to decades of fundamental research, it’s also one of the most curable. However, cha...
www.cshl.edu
August 18, 2025 at 7:28 PM
For Hermann J. Muller's 65th birthday, students sent him poems with accompanying drawings by Elof Carlson. The poem and drawing below features drosophila, which Muller studied the genetics of.
July 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
History of the Lab!

The Davenport building was first used by the superintendent of the Fish Hatchery. When the Dept of Genetics was established, its director Charles Davenport lived there until he retired in 1932. It then served as a residence for staff and became known as the Carnegie Dorm.
July 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
Researchers at the renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have documented 35,000 tomato branches over three years.
Long Island researchers using tomatoes to feed the future of science
Tomatoes are ripening in gardens across our area, but in one Long Island field, no one is picking them. Instead, they are fueling groundbreaking research into bigger yields and better medicines. CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff explains.
cbsloc.al
July 12, 2025 at 1:10 AM
In the early 1900s, students created a newsletter called Hooper Up. Each issue included cartoons, jokes, “news” articles and songs covering not only the lab’s scientific work but also lab gossip.

Surviving issues of the newsletter are digitized via the CSHL Archives!

bit.ly/4lriHdv
Hooper-Up 1924 - cshl
Archival collection of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ( CSHL ) photos.
cshl.smugmug.com
July 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Our oral history collection is growing! New interviews with leading scientists are now available online.

library.cshl.edu/oralhistory/...
July 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by CSHL Center for Humanities
New research from CSHL’s Zach Lippman, David McCandlish, and collaborators uncovers cryptic mutations—hidden genetic changes that only show up under certain conditions and shape plant traits. Understanding these could lead to better crops and better medicines. www.cshl.edu/branching-ou...
Branching out: Tomato genes point to new medicines | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Picture juicy red tomatoes on the vine. What do you see? Some tomato varieties have straight vines. Others are branched. The question is why. New research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) pro...
www.cshl.edu
July 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Research fellowship available!

CSHL Library and Archives offers the Sydney Brenner Research Fellowship to support research projects in the history of the life sciences.

Deadline for applications is August 1, 2025.

www.cshl.edu/education/ce...
July 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Our website for the 2025 Cancer Genetics: History & Consequences meeting is live!

To view photographs, videos, slides, abstracts, and the meeting program, visit:
library.cshl.edu/Meetings/Can...

#cshhist25 #cancergenetics
June 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM